Vibrationary exercise equipment

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus including a fluid pump means operated by movement of the user and control means arranged for intermittently varying fluid flow in the pump means thereby forming a vibration facility to impart vibration to the user.

RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/507,150filed 12 Mar. 2003, which is incorporated in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise equipment and is particularlyconcerned with such sports, exercise, wellbeing and medical training andtherapeutic equipment having the facility to combine vibration withmechanical loading on the muscles and bone structure of users.

The use of vibration in the context of strength training (where theexpression strength training is being used herein to describe anyexercise facility in which a load is applied to muscles of a user)induces a non-voluntary muscular contraction called the “tonic vibrationreflex”. Weight training with additional vibration has been shown toaugment strength and power over and above that achieved with strengthtraining alone. This effect is achieved through the recruitment ofadditional muscle fibres above the normal recruitment level. Vibrationhas also become a common tool used in the retardation of muscle and boneatrophy on earth and in space.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Currently commercially available weight training devices rely either onun-modulated loads or full body vibration. These devices apply novibrational loading at all, or fail to apply directly specificfrequencies to targeted muscle groups. Some such full-body vibrationsystems can also quickly lead to discomfort and other negative physicalside effects.

A publication in Journal of Sport Sciences 1999, 17, 177-182 disclosesthe effect of vibrationary stimulation on bilateral biceps curlexercises. According to this publication the superimposed vibrationduring the exercise was transmitted to the muscles by a speciallydesigned vibratory stimulation device. This consisted of an electricmotor with a speed reduction facility and eccentric wheel. The load washeld by a cable passed through the eccentric wheel via pulleys. Theeccentric rotation elicited peak-to-peak oscillations of 3 mm with afrequency of 44 Hz. After vibration damping caused by cabletransmission, the acceleration on the handle was about 30 m/s⁻² (RMS).Vibration from the two-arms handle was transmitted through thecontacting muscles involved in the pulling action.

A particular disadvantage associated with the use of vibration which isdirectly electrically generated is the difficulty of applying thevibration directly to the user throughout the various configurations ofthe equipment. There is a mismatch between the mechanical and electricaloperation which impedes obtaining maximum benefit from the applicationof vibration. Moreover non-smooth contraction of muscle has beenobserved in weight training equipment utilizing electric motor drivenvibration devices.

We have now devised an improved apparatus for enabling vibration to betransmitted to a person exercising.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

According to the present invention an exercise apparatus comprises afluid pump means operated by movement of the user and control meansarranged for intermittently varying fluid flow in the pump means therebyto impart vibration to the user.

A vibration frequency to provide benefit may be from 1 Hz to 100 Hz,preferably from 10 Hz to 35 Hz. Where this is obtained in a rotary oroscillating, eg solenoid, valve, closure of the valve every 0.1 to 0.3seconds for a period which may be 50%, but could be more or less of thetime, ie 0.05 to 0.015 seconds the user will experience for a very shortperiod an increase in resistance superimposed on that of the real orsimulated weight.

According to a feature of the invention the fluid pump means may alsoincorporate static resistance means whereby the fluid pump imposes theload as well as the vibration on the user.

Advantageously the exercise apparatus may comprise a piston cylinderarrangement whereby tension and compression are effected as between thepiston, via a connecting rod, and the cylinder. Then a fluid circuitconnected to the interior of the cylinder on both sides of the pistoncan be arranged to carry the vibration facility.

By this means the exercise apparatus can readily be arranged to load theuser in both directions, push and pull, compression and tension. It canbe made relatively compact so as to be portable for use in one hand orbetween a user's two hands for arm strengthening and “chest expanding”,although arrangements for such operation between other parts of theanatomy are also readily possible.

The static load can be realized in a restrictor or pressure relief valvemeans, which are advantageously adjustable to provide different loadsand equipped with an indicator of the load being applied. By use of anon-return valve for example the load can be arranged to differ asbetween the two directions, while a control cock arranged to block oropen the non-return valve can be employed to convert the apparatusbetween uni-directional and bi-directional strength training.

A perhaps non-adjustable part (or whole) of the resistance to motion canbe obtained in a bleed through the piston, with differential load beingobtained via a non-return valve and or a pressure relief valve also ifnecessary located in the piston The vibration can readily be arranged todiffer as between push and pull as well.

The fluid may be a gas such as air or nitrogen or a liquid such as anhydraulic liquid. If, in the case of a liquid, damping of the vibrationis desired and is not achievable by padding with, for example, foam, orby employing a viscous liquid as the medium, a gas cushion or valvedevice may be incorporated to achieve this.

Where gas is employed, it has been found that compressing the gas to apressure of 4.5 bar creates an effective transmission of reactive forcewithout excessive damping. Pressures from 2.5 bar up to 4.5 bar provideprogressively less damping action and thus the absolute pressure towhich the system is primed can be used to effect the maximum reactiveforce generated and the damping characteristic of the vibration effectfelt by the user.

According to another feature of the invention the fluid pump means maybe interposed between an operating bar arranged to be pushed and/orpulled by a user, and a base, which may be a static part of theapparatus. It is preferable for the fluid pump means to be linked to theoperating bar substantially directly to avoid losses and unwanteddamping of the vibration. Such a fluid pump vibration means can readilybe constructed as a retrofit to an existing weight training equipment.

The vibration may be generated in the fluid pump means by a motorisedvalve incorporated therein. The valve may be a solenoid valve, diaphragmvalve or a rotary valve inter alia.

In the case of a solenoid valve of the type constructed to operate withfluid flow in only one direction a bridge configuration may be employed.Often also solenoid valves have limited flow rate capacity for a givenreasonable power or a high flow resistance. The employment of an arrayof such valves in parallel to overcome this can confer a particularlysignificant advantage, discussed below, that of applying randomvibration.

It is often desirable to employ vibration only when lifting a weight orin a single direction of motion of the equipment and this apparatus inaccordance with the invention can readily be arranged for this to occur.Where solenoid valves are used the preferred unpowered valve status isOPEN such that until powered the solenoid valve will allow free passageof fluid.

A preferred solenoid valve is the Festo™ low latency solenoid valve typeMHE2-S with a 2 ms (two microsecond) latency and employing internalelectronics to permit fast switching.

If one or more rotary valves are used instead of solenoid valves, thesecan be readily be driven by one or more electric motors, which may be ACor DC and brush, induction or homopolar motors. Ideally the motoroperation is so controlled that speed or speeds can be set selected andcontrolled to an accuracy of 10%, preferably 1%.

A yet alternative motor is a stepper motor employing electroniccommutation and multiple poles such as 2 pole, 4 pole, or 5 pole fixedcoil arrangements and multiple poles on the rotor. This enables half- ormicro stepping, allowing for example 200 micro steps per revolution of1.8° per step. The rate of revolution can be set by a hardware orsoftware clock signal applied to selected coils by a dedicatedintegrated circuit or discrete electronic hardware control circuits.This makes a stepper motor particularly suitable in contexts where avariety of valve speeds is desired. When operating a stepper motor therate of coil or coil-pair energisation and thus rotary speed iscontrolled by the rate of application of electronic signals. As the rateof energisation may be varied to produce a range of speeds, and thespecific poles selected with respect to their disposition around therotor is also selectable, there is a measure of control available thatallows the angular speed to vary within less than one revolution persecond. Thus random or pseudo random variability in valve opening andclosing times may be effected through control of the stepper motor coilenergisation order and speed.

As has been indicated above, it is particularly advantageous for theapplied vibration to be arranged for random or even pseudo randomamplitude and frequency. The effect on muscle development of such anarrangement is particularly marked. By pseudo random is meant a cycle ofvariation long enough to be substantially unpredictable to the user.Pseudo random variation can be obtained using two motorised valves,solenoid or rotary inter alia, in parallel in the fluid flow circuit,and arranged to operate at different speeds. Thus the combinedresistance created varies over time as valve open and closed times moveinto and out of synchronicity.

The rotary motor driven valve itself may be an offset valve of the typedisclosed in PCT Patent Application PCT/GB2006/050314 and UK PatentApplication 0520195.9. This valve comprises (i) a housing containing afluid flow path with a central axis, (ii) a plug having a sealing facecooperating with said housing in the closed position to block the fluidpath, and (iii) a support shaft arranged to carry said plug means andbeing rotatable on an axis which is normal to and spaced from the axisof said valve seat and located outside of the flow path so that rotationof the said shaft moves said plug means relative to said housing. Theshape of the vibration pulse obtained with such a rotary valve willdepend upon the nature of the valve core offset and the shape and sizeof the core recess.

Advantages of a valve of this kind are that (1) when fully open there isno occlusion of the opening, and (2) the valve opens and closes onlyonce per revolution. This latter reduces or obviates the gearing whichmight otherwise be required when employing a motor the normal speed ofwhich would otherwise impose too high a vibration frequency.

Whatever the type of valve employed, when a liquid rather than a gas isemployed as the fluid, it may be advantageous to permit a smallthroughput of fluid even when the valve is ostensibly closed. With arotary valve this may be achieved with an appropriate passage throughthe obturator or a groove therearound.

Many weight training equipments carry some form of dampening structureto provide user comfort, particularly those equipments which bear uponthe user's shins for example. Normally this might comprise a plasticsfoam, particularly one which under the influence of body warmth andpressure distorts to mould itself to the profile of that part of thebody applying the force. It would be expected that the use of such foamswould largely attenuate the transmission of vibrations. HoweverConforfoam™ type “CF-47 green” produced by E.A.R. Speciality Compositeshas been found to have good vibration transmission characteristicswithout compromising comfort.

It may in fact be advantageous, not least from the point of view ofsimplicity of retrofit or upgrade assembly, when employing a foam havinggood vibration transmission characteristics, to locate a vibrationgenerating device within the operating arm of an exercise machine,including within the foam itself.

There is some evidence to suggest that random direction vibration may becounter-productive to the efficacy of vibrated training and thatapplying the vibration in the direction of muscle stress yields thebetter results with reduced fatigue and reduced potential nausea. Alinear vibration mechanism can be achieved using a fluid circuit asherein described though retrofit in the arm or foam can be simpler if anelectric motor is used to generate the vibration. The motor may bearranged to drive a crank coupled through a connecting rod to acrosshead to which is attached a relatively large mass, the crossheadbeing constrained by guide bars to shuttle linearly. Other mechanismsfor translating rotary motion to linear may of course be used.

A typical application of this embodiment of the invention is in aleg-extension training apparatus. An arm pivoted at a point coincidingwith the user's knee joints is, in this application, associated withtraining weights and carries a padded bar arranged for bearing low onthe legs of the user, a linear vibration device being located within orinside the padding and arranged so that in operation the vibration is inthe same direction as the force applied to lift the weight.

By employing motorised variable flow resistance control valves inconjunction with microprocessor based controllers the equipment may bearranged to read smart cards, swipe cards or other data entry meansincluding keypads, touch screens, voice control or wirelessly linkeddata transfer using RFID or other technologies. In this way theapparatus may be adjusted to suit an individual user's training andphysiological characteristics and specified programme, according to realtime software algorithms, look up tables or other rules orpre-programmed sequences.

It may be desired to incorporate readout devices for indicating theweight and/or vibration applied and the amplitude of apparatus expansionor compression. To those skilled in the art there are many ways ofdetecting the position and direction of motion of parts of strengthtraining apparatus in accordance with the invention, includingmicroswitches, electrically resistive means, capacitive and inductivesensors, opto-electronic devices, Hall Effect magnetic devices, reedswitches or other similar components which may be read sequentially orincrementally by interaction with moving parts of the equipment.Electronic means including simple circuit arrangements creatingsequential state machines or more sophisticated arrangements includingstored memory devices such as RAM or other temporary storage means maybe used, preferably with a microprocessor to control the recording orprocessing of information about the order of events such that thisinformation may be used to switch the vibration inducing solenoid OPENfor a particular part of the cycle of operation or control otherfeatures of the performance, such as mark-space ratio or if the weightsimulating valves are motorised the balance between vibrated andbackground resistance generated by the apparatus or other parameterthereof. In this case the electronic means of control can be arranged toapply selectively the vibration resistance to the user and control thelevel and timing of all resistive elements of the load application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention attached to anexercise machine;

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is one disc used in a different embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a second disc;

FIG. 5 shows the discs of FIGS. 2 and 3 in position;

FIG. 6 shows a breathing apparatus using the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a hydraulic damping system applied to a weight machine;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a simple “stand alone” two-wayvibrationary muscle training device;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a simple “stand alone” one-wayvibrationary muscle training device;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a closed circuit vibration device forfitment in a weight training apparatus and pneumatic solenoid valveoperated;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a closed circuit vibration device forfitment in a weight training apparatus and having hydraulic and by-passvalves;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a closed circuit vibration deviceoperated by a motorised rotary valve;

FIG. 13 depicts a cutaway valve core used in an offset rotary valvearranged for one closure per revolution;

FIG. 14 is a schematic section of a rotary valve having a core as shownin FIG. 6;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of the fitment of a closed circuitvibration device to a weight training apparatus;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a closed circuit vibration device havingtwo rotary motorised valves in parallel, for inducing pseudo-randomvibration;

FIG. 17 shows a parallel valve Magnitude vs Frequency spectrum;

FIG. 18 shows a parallel valve configuration waveform;

FIG. 19 shows a full bridge fluid circuit for permitting uni-directionalflow of fluid regardless of piston direction;

FIG. 20 is a power amplifier circuit for driving a 24v solenoid valvefrom a 5v control signal;

FIG. 21 is a graph of a simple control signal employed in switching asolenoid valve and the latency of valve operation;

FIG. 22 is a schematic cross section of a padded vibration arm with arotary eccentric bob-weight;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of a linear vibration device showing acrank, a connecting rod, a crosshead and guide bars;

FIG. 24 is a diagram of a linear vibration device added to a legextension machine;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a swipe card information entrysystem;

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention withpiston located valves and mounted in weight training apparatus; and

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of a stand alone embodiment of the inventionwith piston located valves.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 a belt (1) is connected at one end to theweights lifted by the user and the other end is attached to the handgrips moved by the user. A roller (2) has rubber pads (3) positionedaround its circumference. Roller (4) is positioned so that the band (1)is gripped between rollers (2) and (4). In use, as the user pulls on theweights, the band moves and causes the rollers (2) and (4) to rotate. Asthe band passes over the pads (3) a vibration is given to the band whichvibration is passed onto the user via the hand grips. This vibrationacts on the muscles being exercised and the frequency of vibration canbe controlled by the number of pads (3).

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 a first disc (5) has two holes (6) in itand a second disc (7) has holes (8) of varying size in it. The two discsare located on a common axis and the disc (5) is connected to a motor.As the disc (5) is rotated by the motor, the holes (8) are periodicallycoincident with the holes (6).

Referring to FIG. 6, the discs are mounted in a chamber (II) with an airconduit (10) passing through it with one end connected to mouthpiece(9). The air conduit is positioned so that it connects to a hole (8) andso, as one of the holes (6) is coincident with the hole (8) a continuousair passage is formed and, as the hole (6) moves out of coincidence,there is an interruption to the air supply and this periodicinterruption causes a vibration effect in the breathing muscles of theuser. The rate of flow of the air to the user can be controlled by thesize of the hole (8) used and the frequency of vibration controlled bythe speed of rotation of the disc (5).

Referring to FIG. 7 a weight lifting machine comprises a fixed framework(21), a sliding member (22) and attached adjustable weight (23) whichmay slide up and down guide rails (24) when a person pulls on cable (25)which is guided over pulley (26), being connected to the sliding member(22) and weight (23). The sliding member (22) is attached to a piston(27) which is located in a cylinder (28).

When cable (25) is pulled, the sliding member (22) with attached weight(23) is moved upwards against gravity providing a working load to theuser's muscles, the piston (27) displacing air in cylinder (28) outthrough port (29). The air displacement is checked by a control valve(30) which is driven on and off at the desired frequency by a controller(32), causing the air flow to be intermittently interrupted beforerelease to atmosphere via port (31). The switched air-flow checkingaction of control valve (30) provides a time variant damping load overand above that provided by the lifted weight (33), translating vibrationinto the operator's muscles employed in the lifting action.

The embodiments depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9 are stand alone vibrationarymuscle training devices which may be used for example between the twohands or, with suitable means for attachment to the limbs, between anytwo limbs or even between a limb and another part of the body, orbetween one part and another of a jointed limb.

Thus, FIGS. 8 and 9 show a piston 100, connecting rod 101 and cylinder102 arrangement wherein the left hand end of the cylinder 102 isarranged for association with one limb of a user, for example, and theconnecting rod 101 is arranged for association with another of theuser's limbs. A bypass conduit 103 from the cylinder at both sides ofthe piston has, in the case of the FIG. 8 embodiment, two parallelsections, the first incorporating a controllable valve 104 and thesecond a controllable valve 105 and a solenoid valve 106. The solenoidvalve 106 is arranged for being pulsed open and closed at one or moredesired frequencies while the valve 105 is arranged to control theamount of fluid passing through the solenoid valve 106. The section withthe valve 104 has the function of applying the main resistive force inthe apparatus and the valve 104 is adjustable to vary this force. Byadjusting both valves 104, 105 a ratio of main resistance to pulsedresistance can be varied.

The FIG. 9 embodiment has a uni-directional, or non-return valve 107, inparallel with the other two parallel sections. This permits freemovement of the piston 100 in one direction for situations wherestrength training is only required in the one direction.

FIGS. 10 to 14 relate particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, toa vibration device adapted for fitment to a strength training apparatus,in particular a weight training apparatus, perhaps by retrofit.

In FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 there is a piston 200, connecting rod 201, andcylinder 202 arrangement. A bypass conduit 203 from the cylinder 202 atboth sides of the piston 200 has, in the case of the FIG. 3 embodiment,a solenoid valve 204. The function of the solenoid valve 204 is, byrapid cyclic opening and closing, to impart vibration to the fluid inthe cylinder. The solenoid valve 204 is accordingly arranged for beingpulsed open and closed at one or more desired frequencies.

The FIG. 11 embodiment has, as well as the solenoid valve 204 forimparting vibration, a variable opening valve 205 for effecting controlover the resistance experienced.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 is particularly suited for usewith a gas such as air or nitrogen, where no additional damping might berequired. The gas is pressurized to 4.5 bar. This is sufficient toprevent excessive damping.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 is particularly suited for usewith an hydraulic liquid. As damping is apt to be required when a liquidis used, the variable opening valve 205 caters for this.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12 has a rotary valve 210 in place ofthe solenoid valve 204. An electric motor and any necessary gearbox 211drives a valve core with a cut-away permitting selective passage offluid depending on the relative angle of the core with respect to thefluid flow ports. The rotational speed of the valve core sets thederived frequency of the vibration. The electric motor is of thevariable speed variety.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a particular form of a valve 210 for whichthe rotational speed equates to the vibration frequency. The valve has acylindrical core 212 which has a recess 212 a and is offset to a bore213 of the valve so that when the recess 212 a is presented to the fluidflow bore 213, fluid passes freely through the bore 213. This valve isof the type disclosed in PCT Patent Application PCT/GB2006/050314 and UKPatent Application 0520195.9.

In a variation to the valve 210 particularly useful where the fluid is aliquid, the core 212 shown in FIG. 6 has a circumferential groove,illustrated by dotted lines 214. This has the function of dampening thevibration and rendering it less harsh to the user.

The devices shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are adapted for fitment betweenthe static frame 300 and the user operated part 301 of a typicalstrength training apparatus as shown in FIG. 8. The actual device shownis a weight training device where the user operated lever arm 301 ispivotally attached to the frame 300. A wire 302 attached at one end tothe arm 301 distal from the pivot point passes over a frame mountedpulley 303 and is attached at its other end to a variable weight block304.

FIG. 16 depicts a pseudo random vibration apparatus. A fluid conduit 220connected into the cylinder 202 at both ends thereof has two parallelcircuit arms 221, 222 in each of which is a rotary valve 223, 224 drivenby a variable motor 225, 226. The speeds of the motors 225, 226 arecontrolled by a controller 227 adopted to control the base speeds of thetwo motors in accordance with a desired vibration variation.

FIG. 17 is a graph of a typical pseudo random vibration variationachieved with the apparatus described with reference to FIG. 16 when thetwo valves 223, 224 are run at different rotational speeds. The graphrepresents the Magnitude vs Frequency spectrum experienced when thesetwo rotational speeds are quite close and as shown is typical of thesituation which arises whenever the ratio of frequencies is low.

FIG. 18 translates the graph of FIG. 10 into a waveform of flowamplitudes vs time.

The fluid circuitry illustrated in FIG. 19 has a plurality of solenoidvalves 250 in parallel in a one-way valve 251 bridge circuit associatedwith a fluid conduit 203. Primarily this circuitry ensures thatvibration is only applied in one direction, the direction of pressure,and is absent during the relaxation movement. The employment of aplurality of solenoid valves 250 in this way enables amplitude andrandomness of vibration to be controlled. The circuit includes a fluidcharging/pressurising valve 252.

FIG. 20 shows a typical solenoid valve drive circuit permitting a TTL 0to 5v DC signal to drive a 24v DC solenoid valve with catch or flywheeldiode to prevent a back emf from the inductive solenoid coil fromdamaging the transistor.

Referring to FIG. 21, as a solenoid valve takes time to operate, due tothe mass of the valve plug and the inductive nature of the drive coilthere is a delay, often called latency, which limits the maximum speedat which the valve can operate. In many fast solenoid valves the latencyis in the range 2 mS (two microseconds) to 4 mS. In such cases to turnON and OFF and complete one cycle the fastest theoretical on-off cycleor period will be in the range 4 mS to 8 mS, giving a maximum frequencyof 250 Hz to 125 Hz respectively. In practice there are other delays inreversing the field in a solenoid coil, and damping constraints, thatlimit the maximum frequency of operation to 50 Hz. Under load this maydrop to 25 Hz. If higher speeds are required without resort tospecialised solenoid valves, then the motorised rotary valves alsodiscussed above may be employed.

FIG. 22 shows a cross section of a bar or lever 400 in a strengthtraining device subject to vibration in accordance with the invention.The bar or lever 400 is surrounded by a closed cell foam 401 supportingan outer tube 402 which is in turn covered by a foam pad 403. The foampad 403 is formed of Conforfoam™ type CF-47 green. This foam, whilstconforming to the local shape of, say, the user's lower shins, isparticularly capable of transmitting vibration without significantlydamping it.

In the particular case shown in FIG. 22, a vibration device is attachedto the interior of the outer tube 402 in a recess in the foam 401. Thevibration device comprises a bob-weight 410 associated with an electricmotor 411.

The linearity of this vibration, constrained for alignment with thedirection of the user's muscle strengthening procedure, is obtained witha device as depicted in FIG. 22. An electric motor driven crank 420 inturn drives a connecting rod 421 linked to a crosshead 422 constrainedfor reciprocal linear motion by guide bars 423.

The tube 402 may be formed of a metal such as an aluminium alloy and thefoam 401 may be a sponge rubber or a “sorbo rubber”.

In a modification of the device illustrated in FIG. 22 the configurationof the vibration device is adjustable so that the vibration directioncan be regulated.

Application of the devices illustrated with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23to a leg muscle strengthening apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 24. Thisshows a lever 430 associated with an adjustable weight block 431 andarranged to pivot around a point 432 adjacent a user's knees. The lever430 carries an arm disposed for contact with a lower region of a user'sshins, the arm being as described with reference to FIG. 22. Thevibration device illustrated in FIGS. 22, 23 is arranged to vibratelinearly along the arrowed line 433 in FIG. 24. It is also adjustable sothat the vibration direction can be regulated.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a microprocessor based controlsystem for the entry of a user's programme and accordingly the controlof loading and vibration. Alternative or complementary inputs, in theform of a swipe card entry unit and a keypad entry unit enable the userto input his individual programme and to vary it if desired. A USBentry/save to external device unit provides to the user both anindication of his progress with the apparatus and any requiredmodification to the swipe card or user programme store.

The microprocessor is configured to control the valves and read anysensors on the apparatus, which responds using stored programme controlconfigured or modified by keyboard, USB etc inputs or swipe card. Theswipe card can store any personal custom configuration for theadjustment and regulation of frequency, load and other parameters suchas sensor sensitivity, number of repeat cycles to be done at eachsetting etc and store any results generated on the card as required ifswiped before quitting, perhaps even setting an adjusted programme for afuture visit.

The ROM memory contains the operating system and standard settings andprocess control information.

The RAM memory is used for storing operational parameters and other dataassociated with the micro operation during use as well as usuallytemporarily storing configuration and personal data uploaded from theswipe card during use including possibly billing information forequipment use sent out either via the networking port/wireless port etcto a central gym management data system.

The Flash/EEPROM memory is used to store patches uploaded from the reproport to correct or upgrade the operating system/process control code inthe event of errors or other need for modifications to the electroniccontrol systems.

The network port may be used to transfer realtime data to a central PCor other data store for tracking, billing or performance mapping ofeither the machine or individual users. This may be interactive suchthat changes to the behaviour of the machine may be directly effected ora new training configuration be downloaded to the swipe card for thenext usage session by that user.

It may also be arranged to provide random variation of the vibration.

It will be appreciated that any of the devices described with referenceto the accompanying FIGS. 8 to 25 may be employed in both stand alonestrength training devices and in equipment, such as gymnasium orphysiotherapy weight training equipment in which the weight or otherload is applied separately to the vibration facility.

In that respect, FIGS. 26 and 27 show similar embodiments of theinvention, one mounted in a weight training apparatus (FIG. 26) and theother (FIG. 27) as a stand alone device.

Thus the device illustrated in FIG. 26 is a weight training apparatus inwhich a frame 500 carries an adjustable weight block 501 and a pulley502 over which runs a metal rope 503 attached at one end to the weightblock 501 and at the other to a lever device (not shown) for operationby a user. Between the weight block 501 and the frame 500 is a vibrationgenerator in the form of a piston 504, hollow connecting rod 505,cylinder 506 and connecting rod base 507.

A pair of channels 508 communicate between both faces of the piston 504and there is a pair of solenoid valves 509 arranged for controlling theflow in the channels 508. Electric leads 510 pass between the valves 509and a junction 511 in the base 507. Electricity supply is derived at 512and controlled at the control panel 513, which also provides a displayof operating conditions.

The fluid in the cylinder being gas a cock 514 is provided by which thegas can be pressurized to 4.5 bar.

When the weights 501 are lifted and the solenoid valves 509 powered flowfrom one face of the piston 504 to the other is interrupted continuouslyand a vibration imparted to the rope 503. There being the two solenoidvalves 509, the piston cylinder arrangement can be switched to eithersimple vibration mode or pseudo random mode.

The device illustrated in FIG. 27 comprises a closed cylinder 600 havinga base 600 a and in which slides a piston 601. The piston is mountedrigidly on a hollow connecting rod 602 which emerges from the cylinder600 and to which is rigidly mounted a handle 603. A rod 604 is rigidlyattached to the cylinder base 600 a enter and run in the hollow of theconnecting rod 602. The rod 604 has a helix formed thereon. A disc 605is held to the piston 601 so as to be free to rotate with respectthereto. The disc 605 is mounted on the rod 604 in such a manner thatlongitudinal movement of the piston 601 with respect to the rod 604 willcause the disc 605 to rotate. The disc 605 is of smaller diameter thanthe piston 601. Channels 606 provided with non-return valves 606 a passthrough the piston 601 outboard of the disc 605 to permit a continuousbut restricted fluid flow therethrough in a compression direction andfree flow therethrough in a tensile direction.

Channels 607 through the piston 601 inboard of the circumference of thedisc 605 are arranged to align intermittently with channels 608 throughthe disc 605. A plug 609 in the handle 603 enables charging the cylinder600 with fluid and pressurizing same.

The rod 604 and the disc 605 are made or coated with a low frictionmaterial such as PTFE or nylon. Typically the angle of the helix to theaxis of the rod 604 is 8°.

In operation of the device illustrated in FIG. 27, when fully chargedwith fluid, a compressive force between the handle 603 and the base 600a of the cylinder 600 moves the piston/disc 601/605 assembly toward thebase 600 a, the resistive load depending upon the size of the channels606. This movement causes rotation of the disc 605 with respect to thepiston 601, intermittently aligning the channels 607 and 608 and therebycreating an intermittent resistance to the compressive movement. Whenreturning the apparatus to fully extended the non-return valves 606 aopen to permit relatively unrestricted fluid flow through the channels606.

If adjustability were to be required of a device such as thatillustrated in FIG. 27, this may the most simply be obtained via anadjustable valve in a channel connecting both ends of the cylinder 600and exterior thereto, unless remote controlled valves were installed inthe piston 601 somewhat as illustrated in FIG. 26.

1. An exercise apparatus comprising a fluid pump means operated bymovement of the user and control means arranged for intermittentlyvarying fluid flow in said pump means thereby forming a vibrationfacility to impart vibration to the user.
 2. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 1 and wherein the vibration frequency is from 1 Hz to 100 Hz. 3.Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the vibration frequency isfrom 10 Hz to 35 Hz.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and comprising apiston cylinder arrangement whereby tension and compression are effectedas between said piston, via a connecting rod, and said cylinder. 5.Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and wherein a fluid circuit is connectedbetween both sides of said piston and arranged to carry the vibrationfacility.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and having a bleed throughsaid piston.
 7. Apparatus a claimed in claim 4 and having a non-returnvalve enabling a different resistance to be obtained as between tensileand compression movement.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and havinga pressure relief valve enabling a different resistance to be obtainedas between tensile and compression movement.
 9. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 7 and wherein said non-return valve is located in said piston. 10.Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said pressure relief valveis located in said piston.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 andwherein said fluid pump means also incorporates static resistance meanswhereby said fluid pump imposes the load as well as the vibration on theuser.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and arranged to load the userin both directions, push and pull, compression and tension. 13.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and which is portable for use in onehand or between a user's two hands for arm strengthening and “chestexpanding”.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and having a restrictoror pressure relief valve means for providing the static load. 15.Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 and wherein said restrictor or pressurerelief valve means are adjustable to provide different loads. 16.Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 and equipped with an indicator of theload being applied.
 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and having anon-return valve arranged to enable the load to differ as between thetwo directions.
 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and having acontrol cock arranged to block or open said non-return valve and convertthe apparatus between uni-directional and bi-directional strengthtraining.
 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and wherein the vibrationis arranged to differ as between push and pull.
 20. Apparatus as claimedin claim 1 and wherein the fluid is a gas.
 21. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 1 and wherein the fluid is a liquid.
 22. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 20 and wherein the gas is at a pressure between 2.5 bar and 4.5bar.
 23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and comprising an operating bararranged to be pushed and/or pulled by a user, and a base and whereinsaid fluid pump means is interposed between said bar and said base. 24.Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 and wherein said fluid pump means isconstructed as a retrofit to an existing weight training equipment. 25.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and having at least one motorised valvearranged for generating the vibration.
 26. Apparatus as claimed in claim25 and wherein said at least one motorised valve is a solenoid valve.27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 and wherein said at least one valveis a rotary valve.
 28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 and wherein aplurality of solenoid valves are employed in a bridge configuration. 29.Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 and wherein a plurality of solenoidvalves have independent regulators enabling the provision of randomvibration.
 30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 and wherein said atleast one solenoid valve is arranged to be OPEN when unpowered. 31.Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 and wherein said at least one solenoidvalve is a Festo™ low latency solenoid valve type MHE2-S with a 2 mslatency.
 32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 and having an electricmotor arranged for driving said rotary valve.
 33. Apparatus as claimedin claim 32 and wherein said motor is a stepper motor employingelectronic commutation and having multiple poles.
 34. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 and wherein the vibration is arranged for at leastone of random or pseudo random amplitude and frequency.
 35. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 27 and wherein said valve comprises (i) a housingcontaining a fluid flow path with a central axis, (ii) a plug having asealing face cooperating with said housing in the closed position toblock the fluid path, and (iii) a support shaft arranged to carry saidplug means and being rotatable on an axis which is normal to and spacedfrom the axis of said valve seat and located outside of the flow path sothat rotation of the said shaft moves said plug means relative to saidhousing.
 36. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 and wherein said valve isarranged to permit a small throughput of fluid therethrough when thevalve is ostensibly closed.
 37. Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 andwherein the rotary valve obturator has a groove therearound to permit asmall throughput of fluid therethrough when the valve is in a closedconfiguration.
 38. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and having a dampingstructure to provide user comfort.
 39. Apparatus as claimed in claim 38and which is a muscle strengthening apparatus having a bar arranged forbearing upon the lower part of a user's shins whereby the user movessaid bar against an adjustable weight.
 40. Apparatus as claimed in claim38 and wherein the damping structure comprises a plastics foam. 41.Apparatus as claimed in claim 40 and wherein said foam is one whichunder the influence of body warmth and pressure distorts to mould itselfto the profile of that part of the body applying the force. 42.Apparatus as claimed in claim 41 and wherein said foam comprisesConforfoam™ type “CF-47 green” produced by E.A.R. Speciality Composites.43. Strength training apparatus comprising a member movable by a useragainst a resistance, the member having a layer of foam with minimumvibration damping characteristics, and a vibration generator. 44.Apparatus as claimed in claim 43 and wherein said vibration generator isembedded in said foam.
 45. Apparatus as claimed in claim 43 and whereinsaid foam comprises Conforfoam™ type “CF-47 green” produced by E.A.R.Specialty Composites.
 46. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and whereinsaid vibration is arranged to be aligned with the direction of loading.47. Apparatus as claimed in claim 43 and wherein said vibration isarranged to be aligned with the direction of loading.
 48. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 and wherein the direction of vibration is adjustable.49. Apparatus as claimed in claim 47 and having a motor arranged todrive a crank coupled through a connecting rod to a crosshead to whichis attached a relatively large mass, the crosshead being constrained byguide bars to shuttle linearly.
 50. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 andhaving a data entry device arranged for programming the operationthereof.
 51. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and having a readout devicearranged for indicating the weight and/or vibration applied and theamplitude of apparatus expansion or compression.
 52. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 4 and wherein said vibration facility comprises a rodcarrying a helix and a disc held to said piston and mounted on said rodso that movement of said piston along said cylinder causes said disc torotate, there being channels through said piston and said disc which arethereby intermittently aligned.
 53. An exercise apparatus comprising (i)a resistance means arranged to provide resistance to a movement by auser and (ii) a vibration means arranged to impart a vibration to theuser, wherein: said vibration means acts on a muscle or muscle groupbeing exercised; said vibration means comprises a piston, connecting rodand cylinder arrangement and a fluid flow connection between both sidesof the piston and at least one valve interposed in said fluid flow andarranged for intermittent opening and closing at a frequency between 1Hz and 100 Hz; and said resistance means is selected from free weights,a weight machine, a spring resistance, an hydraulic resistance and apneumatic resistance.
 54. An exercise apparatus comprising: resistancemeans arranged to provide adjustable resistance to a movement by a user;vibration means arranged to impart a vibration to the user's muscle ormuscle group being exercised; an input device arranged for converting aninput signal into controls for said resistance means and said vibrationmeans; an output device arranged to provide an indication of theprogramme completed; and wherein said vibration means comprises apiston, connecting rod and cylinder arrangement and a fluid flowconnection between both sides of the piston and at least one valveinterposed in said fluid flow and arranged for intermittent opening andclosing at a frequency between 1 Hz and 100 Hz; and said resistancemeans is selected from free weights, a weight machine, a springresistance, an hydraulic resistance and a pneumatic resistance.